fuel

1 of 2

noun

fu·​el ˈfyü(-ə)l How to pronounce fuel (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: a material used to produce heat or power by burning
b
: nutritive material
c
: a material from which atomic energy can be liberated especially in a reactor
2
: a source of sustenance or incentive : reinforcement

fuel

2 of 2

verb

fueled or fuelled; fueling or fuelling

transitive verb

1
: to provide with fuel
2
: support, stimulate
movement is fueled by massive grants-in-aidAllen Schick

intransitive verb

: to take in fuel
often used with up

Examples of fuel in a Sentence

Noun I had the fuel pump replaced on my car. These latest scandals will provide further fuel for his political opponents. These latest accusations will only add fuel to the controversy. The controversy continues to rage, and these latest accusations will only add fuel to the fire. Verb The airplanes were fueled in midair. The criticism she has faced has only fueled her determination to succeed. Inflation was fueled by high prices. The strong economy has fueled the construction of new homes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
At the time, Daylight Saving Time was believed to help conserve fuel, but nowadays many believe that the shift is necessary to conserve energy. Gina Park, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024 Then, the engine burns the mix of fuel and air, releasing heat. Michael Leamy, Discover Magazine, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
Although markets have steadied since the brief August slump, fueled by an unwinding of the yen carry trade and weaker-than-expected U.S. labor market data, worries remain, according to the fund. Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024 The retail expansion comes after a period of sustained growth fueled by weekly drops online and in prime retail partners. Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fuel 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fuel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fewel, from Anglo-French fuail, feuaile, from Vulgar Latin *focalia, from Latin focus hearth

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fuel was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near fuel

Cite this Entry

“Fuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fuel. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

fuel

1 of 2 noun
fu·​el ˈfyü(-ə)l How to pronounce fuel (audio)
1
a
: a material used to produce heat or power by burning
b
: a material from which atomic energy can be produced especially in a reactor
2
: a source of energy

fuel

2 of 2 verb
fueled or fuelled; fueling or fuelling
: to supply with or take in fuel

More from Merriam-Webster on fuel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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